The COVID-19 pandemic claimed the lives of three more people in the Northern Health region over the weekend.
The deaths were three of 14 new COVID-related deaths reported in the province on Monday. Twelve of those who died were 60 or older, but one of the 14 was a person in their 40s and one was in their 50s, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said.
While the pandemic continues to take the heaviest toll on older British Columbians, Henry said, it shows the serious impact that COVID-19 can have on younger people.
The provincial death toll from the pandemic rose to 1,648 on Monday, including 146 residents of the Northern Health region, according to data release by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
The deaths highlight the importance of continuing to follow public health orders, she said.
"We have 400 to 500 people a day who are testing positive for this virus," Henry said. "We need to hold the line right now."
Henry reported 1,360 new cases of COVID-19 in the province over the weekend, including 47 new cases in the Northern Health region.
The number of active cases in the north rose by nine from Friday to 140 on Monday, according to the B.C. CDC. Seven people were hospitalized with COVID in the Northern Health region, of which two were in critical care.
As of Monday, nearly 2.53 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in the province, including 119,987 in the Northern Health region.
"Over 55 per cent of eligible adults have received their first dose," Henry said. "It's now your turn, it's everyone's turn."
As of Sunday, everyone 18 years old and older is eligible to book a vaccination appointment. To register for a vaccine, go online to getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca or phone 1-833-838-2323 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.
The province will be unveiling details of its plan to vaccinate youth between the ages of 12 and 17 later this week, Henry said.
